Bottom Line: Results Don’t Lie. For intelligently designed, individually tailored workouts that deliver real results, USI is the place to be. Chris Grayson is an anomaly of sorts. He’s an expert with a beginner’s mindset. Due to his scientific approach to fitness and years of experience in the field, he has seen and done enough to know what works and what doesn’t. However, not only does he remain open to the possibility of finding more effective ways to produce results, he spends a considerable amount of time in academia in the active pursuit of just that. To put it simply, Chris is a smart dude. His passion for what he does reveals itself in just a short conversation. I’m able to speak so highly of Chris’ methods because I am personally reaping the benefits of applying them. So far, I’m 61 pounds lighter (and counting) and have had to buy new pants because the ones from only 8 months ago, even after getting to the last hole on my belt, kept falling. To add, I’m now much better conditioned and able to lift more weight than I ever could before. Most important to me is that I’ve seen a marked improvement in my triglyceride and hormone profiles. I can’t recommend USI highly enough! Again, the bottom line is that results don’t lie. If you want to experience improved performance and see your body change before your eyes, head down to USI.
Kevin Tate
“I lost about 40 lbs. and about 5 sizes. I feel wonderful and would reccommend anyone to try it, you will not regret it! I have 3 kids and had put on a lot of weight that was very hard for me to lose until I met Chris. His training is unlike no other. He teaches you about your body, shows you ways to improve it and can answer pretty much all your questions about nutrition. He is so helpful and fun to be around. My body changed dramatically I lost fat and gained muscle. Family and friends were complimenting me. Even customers at my work were shocked by my results. The thing that I love most about training with Chris is his he knows so much. Not only does your body and lifestyle change, but you feel stronger, less tired, and completely confident! His training improves a person from head to toe and I appreciate him more than words can say. I love how toned I look and I love my new way of eating, as well, thanks to Chris and to myself of course.”
Elizabeth Guzman
Three months after having my second child, I had the privilege of training with Chris Grayson at USI. He definitely knows what he is doing! After two months of training with him three times a week i saw results i was never able to achieve on my own at the neighborhood gym in years! I mean, I never imagined having a six pack 5 months after having a baby!!!! He is a great person, very knowledgeable and has amazing nutrition advice that if you follow, will help you keep those pounds off even after you stop training with him. He guides you during the work outs, he gives you nutrition advice, but at the end of the day, like I read on one of his videos; Results are not guaranteed… They are earned!!! It gives me great satisfaction to contemplate my reflection on the mirror and to know that what i see is the result of my dedication, hard work and the great advice of Chris Grayson.
Veronica Hagerman
“World Class Strength and Conditioning coach, Chicago’s best kept secret. If you want to get in the best shape of you life, contact Chris Grayson, by far the best I have trained with.”
Adem Redzovic – Jiu Jitsu Black Belt
“I’ve been training with chris off and on for years. The greatest thing about the Urban Strength Institute is that Chris takes all the “guess work” out of it. If you show up and give your best effort, you WILL achieve your desired results. I’ve worked with Chris for fat loss, endurance training, and strength training and have never been disappointed. I’ve been an athlete in some form for most of my life and starting weight training at a very young age. However, since I began working with Chris I have had my eyes opened to methods I had never been exposed to that produces tremendous results. The things you learn from Chris will stick with you so that even if or when you stop training at USI, you have the knowledge to stay in shape.”
Cliff Hagerman – MMA Competitor and Jiu Jitsu Practitioner
“USI is the best training facility I’ve ever worked with. The trainers work with everyone individually to find out their specific goal and then tailors the workouts and advice to help reach that goal. Unlike trainers at big gyms, the USI team is super knowledgeable about strength training AND about nutrition. Chris Grayson talks to me about my diet regularly and checks in to make sure I’m keeping on track. He is genuinely concerned with the success of his clients. He’s patient and answers all of my million questions and I’ve learned a lot from him. He also writes everything about my workouts down and monitors my progress closely. I’m encouraged to do better than my last workout and this constant progression yields results. The workouts are different and fun and I actually look forward to my sessions. I now have more upper body strength than ever and feel toned. I encourage everyone to give USI a try!”
Shannon Sieve
Innovative and effective training ideas… most importantly results!
Ted Carlson - Strength and Conditioning Coach
I am an athletic, 33 year old male, that was a NCAA athlete. I injured my hip about 21 months ago. Initially, when I injured my hip (as it felt like a pulled muscle), I thought that it would get better with some time off. Well, I was wrong, and my hip stayed annoyingly injured. The only thing that helped my hip was consistent physical therapy and extreme stretching. I needed someone that truly knew the human body, and could stretch my leg/hip in ways that would be impossible for me to do on my own. My insurance initially covered the physical therapy, however, it ran out after about 16 sessions.
I was stuck, as my hip felt better, but was not truly recovered. If I did not find anybody to consistently stretch my hip out for me, the injury would slowly get worse, and I would be right back where I started, with a slow nagging injury that I just can not get rid of.
Luckily I talked to Chris Grayson at USI, and he agreed to stretch out my hip and more for a small gym membership fee (much less than what my insurance was asking). My hip continues to get better, and as Chris consistently analyzes the injury, he finds new stretches to incorporate which always get me better. I actually feel that he has helped me more than the original physical therapists offered by my health insurance.
Chris is intrinsically motivated as a trainer, and truly knows the human body. I would recommend him over any trainer at a big gym, who in reality is someone that took two month long class and applied for a certificate. Chris’s knowledge of the human body is astonishing. If you don’t believe me, talk to him and you will see.
Tony Graziano – Jiu Jitsu Competitor
“Training made just for me. I spent years going to the gym, piecing together workouts from books I had read, with no great results. USI changed the game for me. I’ve been working with Chris for 6 months, and the results have been incredible. I’ve lost weight, added muscle mass, and have a better understanding of my body and the science behind it all. Chris is extremely knowledgable about how to lean down and bulk up. And he’s a lot of fun. USI is a safe and relaxed place to work on your fitness-related goals. Chris will help sculpt the perfect workout for you at the perfect speed for you. Give USI a try. You won’t regret it.”
Jarrod Zimmerman
“Wow! Working out has changed dramatically in the past 10 years. Many times on our own we focus on cardio only or just weight training. At USI, they focus on the whole body, and Chris Grayson has a unique knowledge of the human body. If I had gotten a gym membership, I would have went back to the same boring routine as I had before. Chris Keeps the workouts new and fresh and I really enjoy going to USI every week. If you want to get serious about your health, this is a great place to start.”
Dave Butler
Through college I have been competing on an amateur level in boxing and kickboxing as well as training in various grappling arts. When I moved to Chicago for university I wanted to find a strength and conditioning coach that could take my performance to the next level. Having had some experience with run of the mill coaches and trainers in the past, Chris immediately stood out to me because of his passion for what he does, his intelligence, and his insistence that I not only do what he says but understand the rationale behind it as well. When I started training with him out of the basement of Gracie Barra academy he was residing in at the time, I was struck not only by his accommodating and flexible scheduling, but the fact that everytime I would show up he’d be reading up on either a research study pertaining to his field or planning his next trip to a highly credentialed seminar. This is emblematic of Chris’ entire approach to his industry. Needless to say training with him through his move to USI, I have had not only the opportunity to see real increases in my own athletic performance and conditioning translate to results in the ring, but have had higher energy levels and a better understanding of myself psychologically when it comes to training. Further, I have been in the gym with him training clients with goals as diverse as their backgrounds and demographics. During this time I have never conversed with anyone, competitive athletes or just people looking to get in shape, that have had anything less than outstanding things to say about Chris. He is the most intelligent, well informed, and possibly most motivated strength and conditioning coach I have ever come across and I cannot think of another business that I can more confidently endorse than USI.
Jaspaul Gill – Sanshou Competitor, Jiu-Jitsu Practitioner
“It seems that everywhere in the Chicago area there are big box commercial gyms and personal training studios that promote the newest and “greatest” way to guarantee everyone that they will get into the best shape of their lives. I belonged to those gyms and worked with some of those trainers, and as a former 2 sport college athlete, I felt that I never got enough out of those gyms or those personal trainers. So, when I decided to try out USI I was a bit reluctant, but about 30 minutes into my first workout session I realized that I had found my new gym, or rather my new training home. I have found that I have not only been able to get into the best shape of my life but that I have been able to use the guidelines about nutrition and lifestyle, taught to me by the trainer (Chris) to better my overall health. As a married, father with a stressful job and many commitments I know that the quality of training at the USI directly effects the quality of my life. I strongly encourage all to try the USI, and see the difference that is only available by working with the nationally known and respected staff at USI.”
Aaron Murauskas
“The USI offers a unique atmosphere and training philosophy that you won’t find in a conventional gym or with your average ‘personal trainer’. I’ve been a client since the beginning and the results I’ve achieved speak for themselves – take a look: I’ve been coached in proper nutrition and dietary guidelines to drop fat and gain muscle. I’ve lost over 60lbs and am nearing single digit BF% - I might see my abs this summer and as a former fat-ass this is exciting! I’m a former athlete and thought I knew how to ‘lift weights’ – not true! My lifts never seemed to increase and I was stuck doing the same crap every week. Believe it or not the stuff I learned in high school was outdated. USI changes my workouts every 2-3 weeks and my strength has gone through the roof. Now I look like I train instead of just talking about it. I’ve become more conditioned, flexible and generally have a more positive attitude. I’m a computer geek from 9-5 but once I’m done reading emails and writing code, I feel like a real athlete at the USI. My first session was free and I was hooked from that point on!”
Ryan Burns
Chris’s advanced training methods make him one of the leaders in his industry and in my professional opinion, the best trainer in the Chicago area!”
Ben Knapp - Strength & Conditioning Coach
“Chris has been training jiu-jitsu with me for some time now and at the same time I’ve been training with him to get stronger and improve my conditioning. Throughout the years we’ve had several trainers come to our academy attempting to tell us how we should train to improve our martial arts training. None of them ever impressed me until Chris came. He seemed to speak a different language. Many of the things he told me I’d never heard before yet they made sense logically. He’s helped in developing great routines that transfer over to what we do and that’s Gracie Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. I can go on and on about his talent in this field and his knowledge to put you on the right diet as far as nutrition, which plays a very important aspect in helping the athlete progress to the next level.”
Eddie Redzovic – Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt / Owner – Gracie Barra Chicago
“I’ve been working out for 15 years and I felt my workouts plateaued. I began training with Chris for a change of pace. Not only could I see immediate results, but I gained 4 lbs of lean muscle and lowered my body fat in four weeks and felt amazing. Chris made me work and I had fun while doing it. If you are not interested in achieving goals, or working hard, don’t train with Chris. I can confidently say he is HANDS DOWN the most intelligent, skilled trainer around and if you expect nothing less, neither will he. My mood improved and I felt great 24-7. You can’t put a price on how you will feel and as a mom of a three year old, I need all the energy I can get!”
Melissa Rickman – Photographer
”You don’t just workout with Chris, you train. You train with a purpose and train to reach whatever goals you have. Every set and rep is efficient and purposeful. As far as knowledge, I have not had a question that Chris couldn’t answer with an in-depth explanation. He really knows what he’s doing, hands down!”
Josh Perusse – College Football Defensive End
“Over a two year period Chris has helped me change my eating habits to help me from being a “fat kid” all of my life, he’s helped with the program design for power lifting competition where I was able to set personal record lifts as a result, and he has enlightened me on how to evolve the right way as a strength and conditioning professional.
I’m always seeking out the advice of experts in the field, and Chris is the first person I go to.”
Dan Allison
Strength & Conditioning Coach
“Chris has taken me to the next level by holding me accountable. He is so passionate about the personal programs that he develops that I feel I owe it to him as much as I do myself! No one will push you harder and no one has the combination of knowledge and experience that Chris Grayson possesses. He has taken my training to the level I have always wanted, but was unable to achieve by myself. Working smarter and more efficiently has actually cut the amount of time I was spending at the gym, and also cut out the boring cardio. Chris will get you the results you want, and allow you to reach goals you thought were unobtainable!”
Shane Rickman – Business Executive
